The independent investigation on Grooming Gangs has revealed the initial locations for specific local inquiries. Oldham, Bradford and Keighley, and London are among the areas that will be scrutinized by the Statutory Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, with additional regions to be identified in the near future.
The £65 million probe aims to delve into the operations of grooming gangs and assess the responses of various entities such as police, councils, health services, social care services, and schools. Additionally, it will assess whether areas like Telford, Rochdale, Oxford, and Rotherham have implemented the recommended changes following previous reviews on grooming gangs.
Oldham was designated for investigation last year, with ongoing evidence collection. In Bradford and Keighley, concerns voiced by victims, survivors, campaigners, elected representatives, and others over the years will be directly examined by the Inquiry.
In London, the Inquiry will focus on identifying and addressing group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse by grooming gangs, including connections with neighboring areas. It will also consider ongoing relevant work, including initiatives by the London Assembly.
Simultaneously, the Inquiry is releasing its Victims and Survivors Charter, outlining how victims and survivors will receive support to share their experiences and influence the Inquiry’s proceedings. Any discovered evidence of crimes will be forwarded to Operation Beaconport, the national police operation initiated last year to review previously closed investigations.
Baroness Anne Longfield, the former children’s commissioner for England, is leading the inquiry, empowered to compel witnesses to provide evidence and require organizations to submit documents. She emphasized the Inquiry’s mission to uncover the reasons behind the state’s failure in addressing grooming gangs, hold accountable those who failed victims and survivors, and ensure that similar inquiries are prevented in the future.
National Accountability Hearings are set to commence before the year’s end, aiming to evaluate the implementation progress of over 800 recommendations from past inquiries and reviews on grooming gangs and Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The goal is to determine the actions national institutions should have taken to safeguard children and assess any advancements in areas previously investigated.
The Inquiry is resolute in its commitment to eliminate the need for future inquiries into grooming gangs by addressing systemic failures and implementing necessary safeguards.